Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Foundation - Voice of America Story 04/06/04

Results of Rotary International Conference
Anna Plotnikova, St. Petersburg, Russia
April 6, 2004
See the story on Voice of America website (in Russian)
Story below is a short version of the interview that was aired on 04/05/2004 on the Russian Radio at 8:30am and on the Voice of America on at 10:15pm.

This year's International Rotary Conference took place on the eve of the centennial anniversary of the Rotary movement. Conference participants who gathered in "St.-Petersburg" hotel cited the following numbers: Rotarians now operate in over 160 nations, and the movement boasts over 1,200,000 members. In Russia, where first Rotary clubs started only 14 years ago, most people know very little about them. Some are convinced it is a secret society, while others believe it is a pastime of the very rich. An attendee Vladimir Donskoi discussed this very problem:

"The locals, of course, have their persistent stereotypes. so we are called masons sometimes. They know nothing about either the masons, or the Rotary, but they talk nevertheless. For example, in our city Irkutsk, such statements are made by a very important and very respected writer Valentin Rasputin. A negative opinion always spreads faster and persists longer. To counteract this opinion (we don't really want to dispute it), we have created a web site that covers Rotary's activities with pictures, numbers, and real people' one can readily access the information. To show what we do, and that we are just regular people (we have no bigwigs), is the best counterargument, we believe. The same people who used to repeat the tall tales now begin to see things differently; they begin to doubt some newspaper stories. They see that Rotary members are just regular people who care about them and help others."

Vladimir Donskoi will soon become the first Governor of the District 5010 that includes Alaska, Yukon peninsula, as well as Siberia and the Russian Far East. This is a no small achievement, because until now, Russian Rotary clubs were branches of Western European clubs: those in St.-Petersburg reported to Finland, the Moscow ones - to Sweden. This circumstance perhaps creates certain prejudice against Rotary in Russia.

Notably, very few journalists attended the conference in "St.-Petersburg" hotel. Which is why the conference couloirs produced an idea to create a magazine that would primarily cover activities of Rotary clubs, but also carry public education materials. For example, why do Americans help their former Cold War adversaries? Here is how Kirill Bogouslavski, who has lived in the U.S. for the past eight years, addresses this question:

"The American culture is built around churches. This could be good or bad, but a large part of that culture depends on churches' teaching that life has more to it than money and status, that it also has a spiritual dimension. The system works very well. Of course, there are also many people who independently discover spirituality, which is easier to do in America. Why, do you ask? Because the necessities such as food, shelter, and clothes are not a problem. They are comfortable, so they have an opportunity, money, and time to think about something else. .. So, imagine Russians receiving the same necessities, so they do not have to survive, to run from one store to another, to make ends meet,-what do you think will happen next? Most people in America are in such a position. Here comes a church that guides people's thoughts toward charity and helping others. Such activities are welcome; they are encouraged from the very childhood. Consequently, the culture is very receptive to conducting charity fundraising work."

Kirill heads a nonprofit foundation ASCENT that is aiming at helping orphanages in the Russian Far East with the help of Rotary clubs, districts, and Rotary International. See OrphanAct website: www.OrphanAct.org. Four St.-Petersburg clubs presented other projects in an exhibit by the conference hall. Among others, the exhibit featured a story about children whose parents have died of cancer volunteering at a hospice. Another report was on a medical institute for early intervention, whose medical staff diagnoses congenital diseases in early stages. The institute is currently relocating, and of course, needs funds.

The first fundraiser for these and other projects took form of an auction selling souvenirs with Rotary's insignia. How do the conference participants feel about their accomplishments? Here is the opinion of a Canadian Rotarian Al Fedoriak, District 5010 Governor:

"As we all know, one of the features of a market economy is significant differentiation, disparity among different population groups. There are rich people and poor people. That is exactly where Rotary can provide important help to those unfortunate and left behind. Rotary can undertake projects in the areas of health care, and help orphans. That is the essence of Rotary. I believe this was a wonderful conference. I think we have achieved our objectives and demonstrated Rotary's capacities in Russia."

The president-elect of Rotary International Glenn E. Estess addressed his Russian friends and invited them to attend the next year's celebration of the centennial anniversary of the Rotary movement in Chicago.